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Silver Creek supervisors ask attorney to draft dog-barking ordinance amendment after resident complaints
Summary
After residents said neighbor dogs were disturbing sleep and quality of life, the Silver Creek Township Board voted 4-0 to direct the chair and township attorney to draft an amendment establishing a nighttime quiet period; the board will consider the draft at its first meeting in February.
On Jan. 6, 2026, the Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to direct the chair to work with the township attorney to draft an amendment to the township’s dog ordinance following complaints from nearby homeowners about persistent dog barking.
A homeowner at 12946 County Rd 8 told the board the barking “was getting worse” and said the noise was affecting their quality of life. A homeowner at 12986 County Rd 8 said their dogs are kept to protect sheep, are fenced within their property, and that they believed the dogs had been barking less recently.
Board members reviewed sample ordinances from Southside, Clearwater and Rockford townships. Supervisors Ryan Nelson and Andy Christensen said they favored Clearwater Township’s approach, which sets a 10 p.m.–6 a.m. quiet period. Nelson moved and Christensen seconded a motion asking the chair to work with the township attorney to draft an amendment that would prohibit dogs from barking during a nighttime quiet period (the board discussed either a 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. start time through 6 a.m.). The motion carried 4-0.
The draft ordinance will be presented to the board at its first meeting in February unless the township attorney cannot prepare it in time, in which case the board will set a later date. If the board approves the draft for posting, the amendment would be posted publicly and scheduled for a final vote at a subsequent meeting.
The discussion reflected tension between residents seeking relief from noise and other residents who cited farm animals and working dogs; the board did not set a final start time for the quiet period during the Jan. 6 meeting.
